Since September 1999, rotating teams at the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOP-KC) in Missouri have continuously led a concert of prayer and worship. Under the leadership of Bible teacher Mike Bickle, the church welcomes visitors who come to pray at any time-day or night. The nondenominational ministry, which includes a church with Sunday services, has hundreds of full-time staff who work in shifts to keep 24/7 prayer going.

IHOP-KC has its detractors, both in the media and in Christian circles. A New York Times article called the group "controversial, cultish and unorthodox." Last year, two religion scholars wrote a book claiming Bickle and other charismatic leaders interpret the Bible in "non-standard" ways.

Songwriter Jon Thurlow has been around for most of the journey. After graduating from Nyack College in New York with a sacred music degree, he joined the IHOP-KC staff in 2004 as a worship leader. In an earlier interview, Thurlow spoke of he and his wife's adoption advocacy and his new album, Different Story. Now he shares broadly about the global prayer movement, along with insights into his new songs.

The Purpose of 24/7 Praise

The Stream: The concept of worship and prayer that goes 24 hours every day of the week is new even to many Christians. What does it look like on a daily basis?

Jon Thurlow: The Bible tells us in Revelation that worship and prayer in Heaven never stops. It's always going. We believe God calls us to a live interaction with Him through the Holy Spirit. Really unique things happen in that live environment. I can explain a little of the structure of how we lead in the prayer room in Kansas City.

We have two different worship and prayer formats: there's intercession, and worship with the Word. Intercession would be two hours of worship songs combined with individuals coming up to a microphone and praying for a particular topic. It could be a justice issue, like the ending of abortion or human trafficking. It could be praying for a particular nation in Africa. It could be praying for the churches in our city. (Photo: worship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City/YouTube)

The other prayer format is called Worship with the Word. We incorporate what we call antiphonal singing of the Bible. "Antiphonal" is a fancy word for multiple voices and people singing. We sing Scriptures that we all engage with corporately. That's something we regularly, consistently do as part of our worship model.

As part of the Body of Christ, we believe prayer plays a significant role in the missions movement.

Before we all go in to lead worship, my team of a dozen singers and musicians gather together. We take 20 minutes before the set and talk about what Scripture passage we're going to sing. Or if it's intercession, we'll discuss what we're going to pray over the two hours...

Click here to continue reading.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Ukraine War Kids, 'Forgotten Children' to Taste Joy at Summer Camps

'Miracle' Landing: Florida Pilot Passes Out; Passenger with No Flight Experience Takes Over with 'Hand of God'

New Law Hidden in Biden's Infrastructure Bill Mandates Government Tracking on New Cars Sold after 2026

San Francisco Archbishop Bars Pro-abortion Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion

Transsexual 'Pioneer' Criticizes Modern Trans Activists, Says They're Indoctrinating Kids: 'This Isn't A Game'

Senator Rubio Grills NIH over Lack of Data Supporting Its Push to Give Puberty Blockers to Kids

'Major Legal Victory': VA Judge Finds 'Probable Cause' That Gender ID Books Too Obscene for Minors

Robby Mook Testifies: Hillary Clinton Personally Approved Leak of Alfa Bank Hoax to Media

Fed Judge Overrules Durham Team's Objections to Multiple Jurors in Michael Sussmann Trial Having Been Clinton and AOC Donors; Another with Ties to the Defendant

Flight Attendant Goes 'Above and Beyond', Delivers Baby after Passenger Goes into Sudden Labor Mid-Flight

Archaeologists Find Ancient Underground City Where 70,000 Christians Could Have Fled to Escape Persecution

'Amazing' Start to God Loves You Tour in Liverpool: 'It Was Just Wow!'

Montana Supreme Court Restores Election Integrity (For Now): Court Temporarily Restores Challenged Election Laws Ahead of the Primary

Court Halts Biden Transgender Mandates: 'No Government Agency Ought to Be in the Business of Evaluating the Sincerity of Another's Religious Beliefs'

PRAY: Israel to Join the US in Sacrificing Sovereignty to the World Health Organization

'There Are Two Bodies Involved in an Abortion; the Mother's and the Baby's': Here Are the Facts the Abortion Industry Doesn't Want You to Hear...

'We're Going to Protect Life': Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bill Protecting Preborn Babies from Moment of Conception

Quick-Thinking KFC Worker Helps Save Alleged Kidnapping Victim after She Secretly Slips Him Note 'Begging for Help'

US Congresswoman Introduces Resolution to Label Israel's Founding a 'Catastrophe'

Buffalo Shooter Wore Same Nazi Symbol as the Ukrainian Military